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In the mid-1970s, there was little about the U.S. economy for other industrialized nations to envy. But since those dark days the U.S. economy has reinvented itself. Although layoffs and plant closings have characterized many industries during this time, the turmoil has ushered in more efficient technologies and processes, contributing to a substantial increase in productivity.

Florida has long been a preferred vacation destination for domestic and international travelers. But how will Florida’s thriving tourism industry withstand the slower growth predicted for the nation’s economy? As this article points out, the full impact of a slowdown is likely to vary across Florida’s different regions, which draw significantly diverse groups of visitors.

Many Latin American countries have considered adopting the U.S. dollar as legal tender. While dollarization has its benefits, converting to the dollar may be a quick fix rather than a cure-all for economic ills, as some countries’ experiences suggest.